The Diego Diaries: Ho-Ho-Ho (dd6 235)
-0-Ops Center conference rooms, Christmas Surprise Day
"So far, nothing coming out of the ether to ruin our festivities?" Ratchet asked as he stood beside Prowl sipping a drink that Arcee had spiked in the big punch bowl nearby.
Prowl who was on his third and had no clue they were spiked grinned at him. "So far, we're good."
"You do know, Prowler, that your drinks are tampered with, right? I saw Arcee pour two bottles of high grade into the punch bowl," Ratchet said with a grin.
Prowl stared at him for a moment, wavering on whether to be mad or glad, then decided to lie. He grinned. "I know that."
"I did not know that," Optimus said as he glanced over at the pair. "I should have but ..."
"A flaw. You have a flaw," Ratchet said with a grin. "Is dinner at the usual?"
"It is. The flawless meal that I, Prowl, have prepared is at the usual time," he said as he grinned into his cup. It was amazing how good the drink tasted.
Herds of children and the odd service animal or pet ran around the room weaving through the forest of legs, pausing only to get a treat or eat one held down for them. All was jolly among the little people. Around the colony, the residents were getting ready for their parties and family get togethers. Before that could happen, the Prime and his senior staff would have to make pilgrimages to the human habitats and the Resort. It was tradition, apparently, and they would continue it. The humans one-by-one signaled that they were returning to their facilities and would be ready to receive visitors at this point forward.
Optimus watched as the last human vehicle departed reluctantly, then turned to the room. It was jam packed with the people he loved, some of them for the entirety of his life. He felt a warmth and sense of belonging that had been an elusive thing during the long tribulation they had all somehow survived. Sometimes, war didn't leave its scars and ravages on the outside. "May I have your attention?" Everyone paused, then turned to him. He grinned. "We have to go to fete the humans but what I would give for a picture of all of you here at this moment."
Huge laughter greeted that, then Prowl staggered forward. "Everyone gather around Optimus and we can use the camera system to take the picture." It was hilarious how many individuals this included and their struggle to grip children, animals and each other so that they could have an image taken. The shorter were in front and in the center of it all was the center of all, Optimus Prime. Prowl grinned. "Hold it and smile," he said as he directed the cameras in the corners to take a plethora of images. He would forward one to all including selected humans who would use it for their desktop wallpaper on their personal computers. "Done."
Huge applause and laughter greeted that including a number of jokes about hoping Cliff would be in the shots given what a peewee he was. He didn't give much slag back, a clear indication that Buzzie was good for him. Optimus turned to them. "We are going to start at the Consulate, Earth2 and Earth1, then Sciences, the Hu-An and N.E.S.T. Habitats and end with The Resort. Everyone is supposed to be at one of those so we should not miss anyone. If you wish to come, then you are most welcome." He grinned. "AUTOBOTS! ROLL OUT!"
Everyone would come.
-0-On the road again …
It was a brightly lit line of vehicles that rolled down the highway toward the human habitats just out of town. They had all honked and blinked their lights as they rolled past the Metro Districts and the two big children having a good time with their Supreme uncles and auntie. The sky was black with night and the stars were out on this, a holy day on two worlds. Earth celebrated their religious and/or secular beliefs related to this family holiday and the hope for peace and the prayer that all would be one some fine day. The bots did the same here, minus religion, but the prayers and hopes weren't much different than the humans. Both were strife-ridden cultures who knew what suffering meant and hoped against history that things would change. It was with that fervently in mind that they drove into the hinterlands to salute their fellow Martians.
They passed the Basilica and the shrine there, both lit up and filled with pilgrims. The shrines would be busy on a normal orn but more so on the holidays, human or Cybertronian. Reflection was always good. Driving onward, they reached Earth2, then paused along the road to transform. Turning on their lights, they began to walk down the rise to follow Optimus into the huge paved parking lot around the gigantic facility. Its own lights were brilliant in the soft velvet of darkness as the inhabitants gathered on all three decks to watch the parade of aliens walking toward them. They came in a stream, tall and small, enormous or delicate in bulk, with an array of optics that glowed different colors, though most of them were blue. Led by the one that they called their Chosen, they followed and gathered together in front of the building.
It was silent, then Prime spoke to the humans inside over their intercom system. "Earth2, this is Optimus Prime. We have come here tonight to salute you on this, a holy occasion among your people. We have chosen it for ourselves because it was given to us as a kindness to our children from the soldiers of Diego Garcia and those around the world who helped them. They contributed to help our children have a beautiful moment in the midst of their destitution, something that we reverence with gratitude. We have not forgotten that and have incorporated this holiday into our own culture to continue the sentiments expressed so beautifully by the event.
"We wish in the spirit of the season for peace and goodwill between us. We seek harmony and wish happiness and prosperity for you and your people. Earth is very dear to us, this planet that took us in and allowed us to regroup once more. You are our allies and friends. You hold pride of place in our sparks. In this, a beautiful moment in your cultural life, we wish you the best and most happy Merry Christmas. May those who watch over you bless your House. From mine to yours, we salute you." With that, everyone pulled their guns and taking aim into the distance, fired them into the air. It was astounding in spite of the thin atmosphere, the noise that reached the humans. The bursts of fire from plasma guns and other weapons with discharge were a brilliant flashing accompaniment to the sounds. They fired three times, then subbed their weapons, watching as the humans applauded and waved to them from their safe perch. The People waved back, then turned to go. Up the slight incline they went until Optimus was alone.
He stared at them, this leader of unthinkable age, of great wisdom, character and decency, then he knelt on one knee. Bowing his helm, he paused a moment, then stood again. Then alone in the moonlight, a figure of almost mythical stature, Optimus Prime walked up the incline and was lost from view.
-0-Moments later as a big crowd of mechs walked on the highway heading for the United Nations Consulate of Earth …
"You have to hand it to that mech of mine … he sure knows how to show his quality," Prowl said as the last vestiges of drunkenness burned off slowly in the bracing cold. Walking before him holding the leashes of his sisters and brother, Rambler guided them along. Spirit and T-Bar were riding on the arms of their grandfathers, Tagg and Venture who were laughing over a joke.
"That's why he's the big cheese, the big kahuna, the mech," Ratchet said as he perused his slang files. His buzz wasn't started because he had been told he would have to stay sober for the group.
The fraggers.
"That's him. That's my mech," Prowl said firmly.
"You get off with him being Prime and you holding the title on his aft, right?" Ratchet asked with a smile as inside his hold, Halo slept on. The others were gaggling along on leashes or sitting on arms somewhere in the midst of the laughing boisterous crowd of revelers.
"I DO!" Prowl said just before Ratchet shot him the cure. He assimilated it, then glanced at Ratchet. "Thanks."
" No problem. You know what's missing here, right?" Ratchet asked louder than he needed, thereby drawing attention from half the crowd. Everyone waited. "Caroling."
Huge laughter greeted that, then Sandstorm began at the top of his voice. "Grandma got run over by a reindeer walking home from our house Christmas eve! You can say there's no such thing as Santa. But as for me and grandpa we believe! She'd been drinking too much eggnog …!
That was as far as he got before he was overrun with laughter and scorn. Rambler who was glancing over his shoulder grinned at the mechs, then he began to sing. "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose."
It was at this point that both T-Bar and Spirit sang the missing parts: "LIKE A LIGHT BULB!"
Huge laughter greeted that as they listened to the children, all of them in the group that were in Youngling Day sing the song together. "AND IF YOU EVER SAW IT, YOU WOULD EVEN SAY IT GLOWS!" -every kid
"LIKE A LIGHT BULB!" -Silverbow and Hero chorus
Silverbow and Hero ran forward to walk with Rambler and they sang, too.
"ALL OF THE OTHER REINDEERS USED TO LAUGH AND CALL HIM NAMES!" -kids
"LIKE PINOCCHIO! -chorus
"THEY NEVER LET POOR RUDOLPH JOIN IN ANY REINDEER GAMES!" -every kid
"LIKE FOOTBALL!" -Hero and Silverbow chorus
"THEN ONE FOGGY CHRISTMAS EVE, SANTA CAME TO SAY!" -kid
"HO-HO-HO!" -chorus
"RUDOLPH WITH YOUR NOSE SO BRIGHT WON'T YOU GUIDE MY SLEIGH TONIGHT!" -kids
"FINALLY!" -chorus
"THEN HOW THE REINDEERS LOVED HIM AND HOW THEY SHOUTED OUT WITH GLEE!" -kids
"YIPPEE!" -chorus
"RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER, YOU'LL GO DOWN IN HISTORY!" -kids
Laughter and applause greeted that as they reached the Consulate. Everyone was in the windows watching as the group paused, then walked across the parking lot to the facility. Watching through the windows were a lot of people who were becoming good friends. Sam Witwicky and Carly Brooks-Spencer were there waving as well. Prime grinned. "Good evening. Merry Christmas, friends."
Everyone jumped up and down and waved at that as his rich baritone came over their internal sound system. It was beautiful inside with Christmas trees and lights giving the darkened spaces a glow of warmth and gaiety "I wish to tell you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Its been a journey for all of us and we are happy you are along. Please give our best wishes to everyone both here and on the Earth. We reverence the treaties that bind us together and look forward to the next calendar year together. Until all are one," he said.
Inside, they could see the inmates calling out the creed in return as everyone outside unsubbed their guns. Pointing into the distance, they discharged them three times. It flashed and echoed, then was over just as fast. Waving as they began to leave, hoisting up children as they did, they walked toward the highway together. Prime, when he alone was left, knelt down on one knee and bowed his helm. The expressions on the faces of everyone inside were amazing as they absorbed the honor he was granting. Then he rose and with a wave of his hand, walked toward the others and the next habitation, Earth 1, just down the road.
"I love that mech," Carly said. "He's so honorable."
"Optimus Prime is the best person I ever met, bar none," Sam said as he watched them disappear into the darkness. He looked at the others. "He's the best there is."
No one argued with him.
-0-Down the road
The glow of Earth 1 grew as they reached it, then paused on the lip of the crater. The road ran down to the facility and its huge parking lot. The place was glowing with lights and in the windows, they could see the inhabitants waiting. Prime stepped out and they followed, the mass of mechs with lights glowing and children staring with curiosity ahead. Prime, Prowl, Ironhide, and Ratchet's families walked along, overwhelmed by the dignity and ceremony of the moment. To see a Prime take their knee to anyone was almost unheard of. It was a profound honor to another for it to happen. They reached the facility, then paused.
Standing by the window holding a smiling baby who patted the window with his fat baby hand, Hildie and Jarrod Wilkerson waited with Angus Optimus in arms. Prime grinned, then walked closer, kneeling in front of them. He was massive but the dignity and kindness that he expressed unconsciously was soothing to those standing in the group. He reached out his servo and touched a digit to the window which the baby was patting.
Angus paused a moment to look at the digit, then his parents. Then he smiled and put his hand on the window pane. Optimus grinned, then touched the window. It was still for a moment, then Hildie put Angus down. He walked to the window to put both hands on it, then looked up with a smile at Optimus. Dozens of cameras flashed as Optimus leaned in toward the baby. He grinned and the baby smiled. Two images would become famous and one would earn a Pulitzer Prize. Most of them would become cherished family album images.
Optimus finally stood up again. Hildie picked Angus up and everyone stared at Optimus expectantly. He grinned. "Merry Christmas, dear friends of Earth 1. We are here to salute you and reaffirm our great friendship on this, a day of celebration and reverence on three worlds. You are our good friends and we are glad that we have a moment to say so. We wish you peace and prosperity in this now moment and in the future. Together, we cannot be defeated. Happy New Year as well from Autobot Nation, Earth 1. Until all are one," he said as he stepped back and unsubbed his guns. Pointing into the sky over the wasteland nearby, they gave a three shot salute. When the sound died down and all the guns were subbed, the group waved, smiled and turned to go. When they were on the road again, Prime knelt on one knee, bowed his helm, then reached out again.
Prime touched the window and a little girl reached out to touch back. Children and adults reached out, then Angus, too. Prime grinned, then rose. With a nod of his helm, he turned to leave and walk out into the darkness toward the city with his Autobots. The humans of Earth 1 would watch them until they disappeared from sight.
-0-Sciences
Most of the N.E.S.T. folks and all of the Family where here in the habitat for dinner. It would be close but not uncomfortable with that many in residence. Optimus and the boys were due to come by so they gathered here rather than in the tower. N.E.S.T. would have a skeleton staff rotating in and out throughout the night so that everyone would have most of it off. As they sat together eating or getting food, Annabelle Lennox called out. "HERE THEY COME!"
Everyone stood up and walked to the windows that made up the dome of the facility. Down the street a lot of bots walked, the usual suspects, their families and children as well as tons of soldiers and civilians, some they didn't know. Among them were Lucien, Laslo and their kids along with a crabby Keystock and Cargo. Their genitors were walking with Bezel and Lon. They halted by the windows and grinned at the humans inside.
"Look at the tiny people. I just love our terrarium," Ratchet said as everyone inside and out laughed loudly.
:OPTIMUS! RATCHET! EVERYONE! MERRY CHRISTMAS!: Jessie Landon said as she stood wrapped in James Brooks-Spencer's arms.
:DON'T FORGET! ALL OF YOU ARE ON OUR FUTURE HUSBAND'S LIST!: Lola Teasdale said as Cindy agreed. So did half the inhabitants as well.
:Merry Christmas, everyone: Charlotte Mearing said as she stood beside Seymour Simmons. :From me to you, the very best. I have never loved a posting as much as this and I owe it to you and your people:
Prime nodded. "We are honored to have you."
Judy Witwicky grinned. :YOU KNOW WE LOVE YOU! ALL OF YOU! I do remember when Bumblebee drove up in a better format than his original one and not knowing he was an ALIEN, I grilled my son about where he stole the car: HUGE laughter. :Little did I know how much my life would change. We love all of you, too: Everyone applauded and nodded.
:Semper fi, Optimus. This is a dream job. Not only do we get to work and learn from you. We can do it with our families. From the moment I stepped onto Mars back when, I knew nothing would ever be the same again. Thank you:
Prime nodded. "It has been so for us as well. All the long lonely years of seeking a home … we found it here among you. I would hope that those on Earth know how much we reverence you and the alliances. It adds so much to have you here. From us to you, we wish you peace, prosperity and love. Merry Christmas, human friends. We love you, too."
A huge cheer went up and when it died down Ratchet turned to Prime. "Do we salute them with guns or do I get the honors."
"Oh frag. What now?" Ironhide asked to great laughter.
"It would be dangerous for us to shoot in the city limits. What do you have in mind?" Prime asked with a grin.
"This," Ratchet said as he subbed a stick. "Shall I?" he asked with a giant smile.
Everyone stepped back outside and those inside braced themselves. Ratchet glanced around, then smirked. "Little femmes."
"Please, do the honors," Prime said as he stepped back.
Ratchet chuckled at him. "Messiah of The People ..." He pulled on the end of the stick and it burst into sparkling light. It rolled up like a bubbling spring, sparkling and lighting up a great bit of their area. "See? Nothing to fear," he said as he turned to the crowd of bots and pressed a button on the side of the stick. Flames and lights shot out of the stick like a cannon. They hit the crowd around him and everyone stampeded. Given that kids were by this time in carry holds, no one was hurt but it didn't help with the image to see hard boiled mechs stamping away like prima ballerinas from the big over-sized sparkler in Ratchet's hand. He laughed loudly, then subbed it when it died.
"RATCHET!" Everyone turned to Ravel who was fuming. "You might have hurt someone in the stampede."
"I'm a doctor," Ratchet replied as he glanced at everyone around him. "Sometimes, Ada, I think you forget that I, Ratchet, am a healer. I, RATCHET, FIX SLAG!"
"You, Ratchet, will never be too big to paddle," Ravel said with a frown.
"Your ada is so cute," Sandstorm said as he grinned at Ravel.
"You just noticed that?" Ratchet asked with a dazzling smile. He turned to the habitat which was filled with laughing humans. They waved and everyone waved back, then headed out for the Hu-An and N.E.S.T. HQ. It was a very mellow group that followed Optimus down the road to the airfield.
"I want to go with them," Sarah Lennox said with a grin.
"You and me both." -everyone inside
-0-Hu-An Habitat
They were waiting for Prime and Company to saunter up. When the group gathered around the side of the habitation that bordered the road itself, it was obvious that they were going to do something for Optimus and the boys/girls. They were standing inside, an amazing group of huge burly females holding long staff-like poles. A number of others stood around the edges of the group holding lit torches that threw off flickering light. The femmes were stripped to the waist, their muscular physique appearing to be well developed but male in configuration. If Prime hadn't been told about their gender, he wouldn't have known they were femmes.
Their hair was flowing, their locks hanging down to their knees in thick wavy sheets. Their tattoos could be easily seen now signifying their clans, their leaders and their status in their own society. Standing on the lowest platform nearby on their towering habitation, the bots could see Tempest, a number of others that were smaller and therefore, the males and a number of children. All of them were born here on world and they were kept almost hidden due to their cultural practices of sheltering infants until they were of a certain age and educational attainment among aliens or off world.
Aliens were interesting.
Prime bowed slightly. "Larc and The People, I bid you happy holidays," he said.
Larc bowed lower and then moved closer to the dome. "Lord Optimus Prime, I return your sentiment. I wish you and your great people all that you seek. In return, we wish to honor you with a tradition of our own. It is something you might find familiar. During your games, your teams show their quality and warrior spirit. Humans call them haka. We have a similar tradition and they are enacted to honor others or to brace ourselves for combat. We would be honored to show you some of our quality."
Prime nodded. "I would be honored to watch."
Larc nodded, then stepped back. He held out his staff and a torch bearer lit both ends of it. The others were lit as well, then the torch bearers speared the torch handles into the ground to act as lanterns. Turning to the group, they began to stomp their feet. Larc and the others joined them, then a chant began. It was guttural and harsh, spoken in their language and went on for a moment before Larc and the others began to spin and twirl, doing so with the staffs in their hands. They twirled them like batons, using them like spears to thrust forward and spin like weapons which they obviously were. The chorus rose up joined by howling and cries from those on the tower steps and platforms. The torches were weirdly flashing, casting odd shadows as the Hu-An showed their warrior traditions to the ultimate warriors.
It was rousing and many were the warriors with Prime who watched intently, noting the skill and coordination of the fifteen Hu-An who were demonstrating their own haka. Roars of the singers filled the air as the flames flashed in circles, arcing swings that if connected to someone would probably kill them and fast footwork that was impressive. Their hair flew and they ducked their helms, their long horns showing their dangerous aspect as weapons to the entranced bots watching. It flew past them, an ancient rite given for their honor, and when the dancers, singers and spectators on the tower finished, the empty silence was almost painful. Their bodies were covered with sweat and their long wavy locks clung to their bodies. Larc thrust his lit spear into the ground and stamped out the flame on both ends. Then the others did as well. As one, they bowed low, then moved closer to the dome.
"Optimus Prime, you are the master of our rescue and resurrection here. We are your brothers-at-arms and we will hold you and your people in our sagas forever."
Prime knelt down on one knee and bowed his helm. All of the group with him did as well. He looked at the Hu-An who were still shorter than him even on his knee and nodded. "And you will be held in ours as well. It is an honor to know you and your people. You have my word that the first moment we can, we will help you free your people in bondage."
The group glanced at each other, then Prime. Bowing again, they grinned. It was slight but it was what it was. "Thank you. Merry Christmas Surprise, Optimus Prime and your people," Larc said.
Prime rose and so did the others. "And the same to you, Larc of the People. Until all are one."
Larc nodded. "Until all are one, Optimus Prime."
Optimus grinned, then nodded to the group. Turning to move onward, everyone followed, some chatting a moment with the Hu-An, who all of them liked. When they were out of sight, one moved to stand beside Larc. "How did Megatron come from the same species as Prime?"
Larc shook her head. "I don't understand it either."
-0-N.E.S.T. HQ
Optimus knelt by the window chatting with the four humans who were there on duty. They would be getting off in a joor and head for Sciences in exchange for four others who would do a joor duty before they would change. It would be like clockwork. Everything officially was five by five so after a few more jokes and hilarity, Optimus nodded and rose. With a grin, they flowed with him heading for the road which would lead toward Aerie Hill and the Resort. There was no official location in Aerie Hill and they were official residents of the Cybertronian Empire so they wouldn't be receiving an official visit by the rapidly sobering gang of thousands currently following the First Disciple of Primus wherever he went.
The Resort would be the last place they would go before they would split up to go home to Christmas Surprise dinner. That most of them would just wander up with Optimus and the Fam wouldn't surprise anyone.
-0-TBC 1-1-18 edited 1-2-18
Well, here we are. 2018. My gut usually tells me about how things are going to be and right now, there is nothing but calmness and peace. Given that (in)testimonial, I will call it. 2018 will be better in the ways that matter than 2017. :D Have a great one, everyone. You are sooooOooooOooOoOOo loved. :D NOTES tomorrow. Right now, I have a dachshund from my niece that doesn't like fireworks. Two cats, my dachshund, my chihuahua and Bentley huddled in blankies. :D:D:D